Prior to the 2016 season, both Toro Rosso and parent team Red Bull Racing used engines supplied by Renault. However, frustrated by the unreliability of the Renault Energy F1-2015 and its lack of power relative to rivals Mercedes and Ferrari, Red Bull terminated the partnership at the end of the 2015 season. While Red Bull later renewed the relationship—albeit with engines rebadged as TAG Heuer—Toro Rosso secured a new supply deal with Ferrari. Given the lateness of the deal, the substantial revisions made to the 059 series of engines between the 2015 and 2016 seasons, and the time taken to manufacture new components, Ferrari secured permission from the FIA to supply Toro Rosso with a 2015-specification 060 engine,[3] but no direct factory support from Ferrari as opposed to the 061 used by Ferrari's works team and customer teams Haas and Sauber. Toro Rosso had already collaborated with Ferrari from 2007 through 2013.
The car proved to be reasonably competitive, but not enough to escape from the large midfield group. Verstappen scored 13 points before his promotion to Red Bull Racing after the 2016 Russian Grand Prix in an exchange of places with Daniil Kvyat, whilst Sainz Jr. was the most successful driver in the STR11 car by scoring 46 points. Kvyat endured his worst season driving for Toro Rosso following his demotion, picking up only four points throughout the remainder of the season. The team finished seventh in the Constructors' Championship – the same position as in 2015, but with four fewer points.
Complete Formula One results
(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
Daniil Kvyat
Carlos Sainz, Jr.
Max Verstappen
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